Past PDX Blues Event Archives - Page 19 of 75

JD McPherson Schedules Two Evenings at Mississippi Studios

With an unaffected approach to vital American music and a voice that channels the spirit of Little Richard and James Brown, JD McPherson combines traditional R&B and rock & roll with fresh, exciting songwriting. McPherson is well versed in the process of working within clearly defined formal parameters and employs a similarly rigorous discipline with music that is seductively kickass, seamlessly meshing the old with the new and the primal and the sophisticated. This music satisfies all strands of the traditional American roots scene.

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. Wednesday, April 3 & Thursday, April 4 at 8:00 pm both nights. Tickets $20.00 advance at Ticketfly.com, $24.00 at door. 21 & over.

The Newmark Theater to Host Ranky Tanky – Gullah Music from the Carolina Coast

Past PDX Blues Event

From the South Carolina’s low country, where life is laced with African traditions, comes Ranky Tanky, a quintet with music rooted in Gullah culture. The Gullah way of life descended from enslaved Africans who were isolated on the southeastern Sea Islands, and is a unique mix of African and Anglo customs that has shaped American art, food, language, and attitude. Translated loosely as “Get Funky!,” Ranky Tanky updates traditional Gullah game songs, spirituals, and shouts with gospel vocals, jazz trumpet, and an R&B rhythm section.

South Carolina natives Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton, and Clay Ross first came together in 1998, fresh out of University, to form a seminal Charleston jazz quartet. Now, reunited after years apart and possessing a deeper understanding of home, these accomplished artists, joined by one of the low-country’s most celebrated vocalists Quiana Parler, are reviving this “Heartland of American Music” from their backyards.

Newmark Theater, located inside Antoinette Hatfield Hall, 1111 SW Broadway Ave. Monday, April 1. 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25.00 – $35.00 at Ticketswest.com.

Mardi Gras Celebrations in Portland

Past PDX Blues Event

You don’t need to head to New Orleans or Rio to celebrate Carnival season; there are plenty of parties happening right here in the Portland area. Here are a handful to note:

Mysti Krewe of Nimbus presents the Ninth Annual Portland Mardi Gras Ball – the most authentic Fat Tuesday party in the Pacific Northwest. Shrug off those winter blues with an evening of live music, creative costumes, dancing, Mardi Gras Royalty, king cake, and, of course, a little lagniappe here and there. Costumes encouraged but not required. The theme for this year’s Ball is: Tableaux on Pirates Alley!

Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St. Saturday, March 2. 6:30 pm. Tickettomato.com $30.00 advance $35.00 at door

Rose City Kings Lundi Gras Celebration. Rose City Kings are well known for their exciting live performances and have released five critically acclaimed albums. Rose City Kings’ bluesy grooves will shake you to the bone, and the writing and performances will hit you right in the heart. Get ready for a foot stomping, hand clapping good time.

Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State St, Lake Oswego. Monday, March 4. 7:00 pm. $15.00 General Admission, $80.00 VIP Table (seats 4, located in lower section closest to stage) available at Laketheatercafe.com

The New Iberians’s 19th annual Fat Tuesday Party. Two great Louisiana bands, The New Iberians and Swamp Thang, plus a big bowl of Terry Anne’s famous gumbo, king cake, beads, masks and tons of fun.

Bare Bones Cafe & Bar, 2900 SE Belmont St. Tuesday, March 5. 8:00 pm. $10.00 at the door.

Portland’s Mardi Gras Day Parade 2019 hosted by Mysti Krewe of Nimbus. A free, family friendly, community event.

Mississippi Avenue, Tuesday, March 5, 6 PM

Mardi Gras Parade After-Party with the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus featuring Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. Tuesday, March 5, 8:00 pm. Ticketfly.com $5.00 advance and day of show. 21 & over

Mardi Gras Party at the historic Crystal Ballroom presented by the producers of the Portland Erotic Ball will feature headliners Soul Vaccination, giveaways of thousands of Mardi Gras beads, burlesque, ariel performances, DJs and will be hosted by Emmy nominee Sasha Scarlett.

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside. March 5, 8:00 PM. $20.00 advance and $49.00 Early Bird VIP tickets (three sponsored drinks, early entry/no wait service, access to messanine level, VIP gift bag) are available at Etix.com. 21 & over.

Shemekia Copeland Booked for Jack London Revue

Past PDX Blues Event

Hailed as the “New Queen of the Blues,” Shemekia Copeland never holds back. Her instantly recognizable voice—capable of being sultry, assertive, and roaring, delivers every song with unparalleled honesty and passion. Her wide-open vision of contemporary Americana roots and soul music showcases the evolution of a passionate artist with an up-to-the-minute musical and lyrical approach.

When Shemekia broke on the scene at age 18 in 1998 with her groundbreaking Alligator Records debut CD Turn The Heat Up, she instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. News outlets from The New York Times to CNN praised Copeland’s talent, larger-than-life personality, and true star power. Shemekia earned eight Blues Music Awards, Grammy nominations, a host of Living Blues Awards (including the prestigious 2010 Blues Artist Of The Year) and more accolades from fans, critics and fellow musicians. Her latest Alligator release, America’s Child is by far her most compelling work yet, with music swelling beyond blues and into spirited Americana, with elements of rock, soul, and country. Shemekia sings with passion and insight about the chaos and uncertainty in the world while still finding joy all around her.

Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave. Saturday, March 30, 9:15 pm. $25.00 Ticketweb.com. 21 & over

Living Legend, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Coming to The Alberta Rose

Past PDX Blues Event

Photo by Peter Sloane

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, mentor of Bob Dylan and traveling companion of Woody Guthrie returns to the Alberta Rose. One of the last true links to the great folk traditions of this country, with over forty albums under his belt, Elliott is considered one of the country’s legendary foundations of folk music. He learned the blues first-hand from Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis, Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry, Jesse Fuller and Champion Jack Dupree. In the tradition of roving troubadours he has carried the seeds and pollens of story and song for decades from one place to another, from one generation to the next. They are timeless songs that outlast whatever current musical fashion strikes today’s fancy.

“His tone of voice is sharp, focused and piercing. All that and he plays the guitar effortlessly in a fluid flat-picking perfected style. A brilliant entertainer. Most folk musicians waited for you to come to them. Jack went out and grabbed you. Jack was King of the Folksingers.Wednesday, March 27, 8:00 pm. $25.00 advance at Ticketbiscuit.com, $30.00 at the door. Minors okay when accompanied by parent or guardian.

Tuareg Guitar Master Bombino Back in Portland

Past PDX Blues Event

Mike Rubin of The New York Times recently described a performance by Bombino: “On a recent night in Williamsburg, an ecstatic crowd jammed the dance floor of the club Brooklyn Bowl to see one of the world’s greatest living blues guitarists. He doesn’t hail from the Mississippi Delta or Chicago’s South Side, but from the dusty outpost of Agadez, Niger, in the Sahara. Oumara Moctar, better known as Bombino, is already a star among the Tuareg — the nomadic Berbers who traverse the countries along the desert — and as he releases his sixth album, Deran, he’s on the verge of becoming one internationally.”

North African desert blues (or tichumaren in Tamasheq, the Tuareg language), has become arguably the most successful world music genre to break through since reggae, and few have wielded the guitar with such mastery and majesty as Bombino. His spellbinding virtuosity and urgently dynamic live shows have made fans of fellow musicians from Keith Richards and Robert Plant to Josh Homme and Win Butler, and built him a following that’s crossed over from the world music community to the jam-band circuit.”

Bombino played at the 2014 Waterfront Blues Festival, amazing blues fans with his guitar prowess as he has done repeatedly around the world and at subsequent shows in Portland since. A direct link between the music of Africa and modern blues.

Star Theater, 13 NW 6^th Ave. Friday, March 29, 9:00 pm. $25.00 Ticketweb.com. 21 & over.

Rich Layton & Tough Town Salvation Road Album Release Party Slated for The Secret Society — Sister Mercy To Open Show

Past PDX Blues Event

New album and a new name: Rich Layton & Tough Town are keepers of the flame for American roots music with their high octane swamp rock, country, rockabilly, honky tonk, and blues echoing from an East Texas roadhouse. The band’s signature sound sits right alongside contemporary acts like J.D. McPherson, The Alabama Shakes, and Hayes Carll. Each live show takes audiences for a ride from Sun Studios to Chess Records, from Muscle Shoals to Bakersfield. Rich’s original songs thread seamlessly into the mix, weaving his Gulf Coast roots through tales of rock and roll redemption, harmonica-fueled and swampified. With Salvation Road the band is celebrating their first CD release since 2011 and continuing their attempts at woldwide swampification one neighborhood beer joint at at time, because there is no parole from rock & roll.

Opening the night will be two-time International Blues Challenge semi-finalists Sister Mercy. Led by mesmerizing vocalist April Brown, the band possesses a high energy, blues driven sound that has been bringing high accolades and recognition across the West Coast.

The Secret Society, 116 NE Russell. Saturday, March 23, 9:00 pm. $15.00 advance and at the door, Ticketfly.com.

“Love For Karen” — Benefit For Karen Lovely Slated for Mekong Bistro

Past PDX Blues Event

Due to an injury, Karen Lovely will be undergoing hip replacement surgery on March 11. She will then engage in physical therapy and be unable to perform for two months or more. To help support the award-winning vocalist, on March 24 a group of her peers are gathering together to try to raise a little bit of funds to help her with her upcoming medical expenses and loss of work during recovery.

Participating in the event will be three-time 2019 Blues Music Award nominee Ben Rice, third place International Blues Challenge winner Rae Gordon, the Bayou Boyz (featuring Steve Kerin, Dave Kahl, Dan Berkery, and Brian Foxworth), Michael Osborn, and the Too Loose Cajun Band

Mekong Bistro, 8200 NE Siskiyou. Sunday, March 24, Noon to 5:00 pm. $15.00 at the door.

St Patrick’s Day Acoustic Guitar Circle

Past PDX Blues Event

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with some of the finest young guitarists in Portland as they share stories and songs in an old-fashioned acoustic guitar circle. Set in the intimate setting of The Manor Undergound, this house concert will include three-time 2019 Blues Music Award nominee Ben Rice along with Willamette Week’s Best of Portland winner Kivett Bednar, traditional American musical historian and artist Tevis Hodge Jr, blues & jazz finger-stylist Justus Reece and teenage prodigy songwriter and player Timothy James. Each musician has represented the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis at

the International Blues Challenge over the years, so expect stories of their experiences amongst many other interesting tidbits of their careers while trading leads on various songs throughout the afternoon.

Presented by Cherie’s Blues Highway and The Manor Underground House Concert series, this will also be a celebration of CBA president Greg “Slim Lively” Johnson’s birthday. There will be a bar available, but it is suggested to BYOB and an appetizer to share.

The Manor Underground, 2122 SE Sparrow St., Milwaukie. Sunday, March 17, 5:00 pm (doors at 4:30). $15.00 Eventbrite.com (space is limited, so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance, admission at door will be available if not sold out already).

Send Lloyd To Nashville

Past PDX Blues Event

Lloyd Jones and Kevin McKendree at Rockhouse Studios, Nashville

Lloyd “Have Mercy” Jones has a tremendous opportunity to record his 12 new songs of “Swampified American Roadhouse Music” with Kevin McKendree (Grammy winning keyboardist and producer for Delbert McClinton, and John Haitt) at “The Rock House” in Nashville!

There are many costs creating a project of this magnitude. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Cash. Lloyd is taking care of the first three and we want to help him with the last!

Those of us who support our local musicians on a daily basis, by hosting or attending shows, LOVE to be a part of their success on a local, national and international level. Part of it is selfish (“I knew him when”) but mostly it’s selfless, because we want to pay them back for the beauty they’ve brought to our lives through their sound.

So, Catfish Lou’s is hosting a “Play it Forward” event to help raise funds to defer costs of his travel, studio, and production costs! There will be a raffle and a percentage of the bar will also be donated for the cause. Artists will be announced and added to this event as they are booked, so please keep your eyes on social media for further information!

Lloyd will also be setting up a Kickstarter funding online and we’ll post how you can contribute this route if you’re unable to make the show at Catfish Lou’s.

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24^th. Sunday, March 17, 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Admission is by donation at the door.